Foldable display piece



Nov. 18, 1958 A. E. JOHNSON 2,860,439

FOLDABLE DISPLAY PIECE Filed Aug. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m :37 l H 31I 23 /"20 /:/9 I

.Zfiz/entar: Mrnola? E (/071725072 I 3 J 62 B Nov. 18, 1958 JOHNSON2,860,439

FOLDABLE DISPLAY PIECE Filed Aug. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InfenforxMrnoid E ofiilznaon United States Patent O FoLDABLE DISPLAY PIECE ArnoldE. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to'Arvey Corporation, Chicago, 111.,a corporation of Illinois Application August 10, 1955, Serial No.527,549

1 Claim. (CI. 4111) This invention relates to improvements in a displaydevice and refers particularly to a display device constructed ofcardboard or other foldable board material which may be so assembled andfolded as to form attractive geometrical shapes which may be employed asattractive background pieces in a window display, floor dlsplay or thelike.

In displaying articles of merchandise, it is a well known practice todisplay the merchandise in an attractive, harmonious setting to bestbring out the characteristics of the goods displayed. Such settings, inmany instances are difficult to construct and are frequently quiteexpensive.

The present invention contemplates setting pieces or background pieceswhich may be constructed in numerous attractive shapes which may beusedas such or may be employed as the skeleton of frame upon whichdecorative materials or drapes may be carried, the background piecesbeing characterized in that they may be economically constructed and areflexible in forming many attractive shapes.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

Fig. 1 is a development of an embodiment of the present invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the display device contemplated in Fig.1 in folded and set-up position.

Fig. 3 is a development of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a display device contemplated in Fig. 3in folded and set-up position.-

Fig. 5 is a development of another modification of the invention.

' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a display device contemplated in Fig.5 in folded and set-up position.

Fig. 7 is a development of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a display piece contemplated in Fig. 7in folded and set-up position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates generally asubstantially rectangular panel which may be constructed ofsubstantially any type of foldable board, preferably cardboard. The faceof the panel 1 is scored along parallel lines 2 and 3, and 4 and 5, line4 being a vertical continuaticn of line 3 and being in alignment withscore line 3. The panel 1 is also provided with score lines 6 and 7which are parallel to each other, line 6 being parallel to lines 2 and 4and being laterally offset from said lines, and line 7 being parallel tolines 3 and 5 and being laterally offset from said lines.

The panel 1 is severed along lines of severance 8 and 9 which are inspaced parallel relationship to each other and are at substantiallyright-angles to the lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The lower ends of scorelines 2 and 3 terminate at the line of severance 8 and the upper ends ofscore lines 4 and 5 terminate at the line of severance ICC 9. The upperends of score lines 6 and 7 terminate at the line of severance 8 and thelower ends of said score lines terminate at the line of severance 9.

Thus, the panel 1 may be folded about the various score lines to form aside panel 10, a side panel 11, an upper front panel 12, a lower frontpanel 13 and an intermediate front panel 14. When side panels 10 and 11are folded to a position at substantially right-angles to front panels12 and 13, by virtue of the oflset relationship of score lines 6 and 7with respect to score lines 2 and 4, and 3 and 5, the central frontpanel 14 will be disposed at a plane which is inclined to the planes ofthe front panels 12 and 13. Thus, a background piece, such asillustrated in Fig. 2 may be formed which presents a pleasing andattractive geometrical backdrop or setting for the displayofmerchandise.

If desired, the background piece, illustrated in Fig. 2, may be usedsingly, or a plurality of such units may be used together, standingside-by-side with, for instance, the side 10 of one piece disposedadjacent side 10 or side 11 of an adjacent piece or with the sides 11disposed adjacent a side 11 of an adjacent piece. In addition, thepieces may be disposed adjacent each other with the panels 12 and 13 ofone piece coplanar with the panels 12 and 13 of an adjacent piece orsaid respective panels may be inclined to each other. Hence, numerouspleasing and attractive background shapes may be formed.

Further, if desired, the unit pieces may be so disposed as to presenttheir rear faces forwardly and another large number of combinations ofshapes may be formed in this manner.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, a modification of the inventionis illustrated wherein the reference numeral 15 indicates a panel whichmay be constructed of the same materials comprising the panel 1heretofore described. The panel 15 may be provided with a plurality ofspaced parallel score lines 16, 1'7 and 18 and a similar plurality ofscore lines 19, 20 and 21 which are respectively in alignment with thescore lines 16, 17 and 18. The panel 15 is severed along spaced lines ofseverance 22 and 23, said lines of severance being disposed atsubstantially right-angles to the score lines hereinbefore described.Between the lines of severance 22 and 23 the panel 15 is provided withspaced parallel score lines 24, 25 and 26, said score lines beingdisposed substantially parallel to the score lines 16, 17 and 18 and 19,21) and 21. Score line 24 is laterally offset from score lines 16 and 19and score line 25 is laterally ofiset from score lines 17 and 20. Scoreline 26 is similarly laterally offset fro-m the score lines 18 and 21.

The lower ends of score lines 16, 17 and 18 terminate at the line ofseverance 22 and the upper ends of score lines 19, 20 and 21 terminateat the line of severance 23. The opposite respective ends of the scorelines 24, 25 and 26 terminate at the lines of severance 22 and 23.

Thus, the panel or blank 18 is divided into opposite side panels 27 and28, upper panels 29 and 30, lower panels 31 and 32 and intermediatepanels 33 and 34. When the blank or panel 15 is folded about therespective score lines a background piece such as illustratedin vFig. 4is formed, the panels 29 and 30 taken in conjunction with the sidepanels 27 and 28 forming a substantially cubicle shape or structure 35at the upper portion of the display piece, the panels 33 and 34 taken inconjunction with the sides 27 and 28 forming a substantially cubiclestructure 36 intermediate the display piece and the panels 31 and 32taken in conjunction with the side pieces 27 and 23 forming a lowercubicle structure 37, the sides of the cubicle structure 35 beingsubstantially parallel to the sides of the cubicle structure 37 and thesides of the intermediate cubicle structure 36 being disposed at anangle to the-respective sides of the cubicle structures 35 and 3.7.

The display piece illustrated in Fig. 4 may be used individually or aplurality of such display pieces may be The panel 38 may be providedwith a plurality of parallel spaced score lines 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43,all of said score lines being substantially parallel to each other andthe score lines 40 being offset with respect to the score lines 39, thescore lines 41 being laterally offset with respect to the score lines.40, the score lines 42 being laterally offset with respect to the scorelines 41 and the score lines 43 being laterally offset with respect tothe score lines 42.

The panel 33 may be provided with spaced parallel lines of severance 44,45, 46 and 47, the lower ends of the score lines 39 terminating at theline of severance 44, the respective ends of the score lines 40terminating at the lines of severance 44 and 45, the respective ends ofthe score lines 41 terminating at the lines of severance 45 and 46, therespective ends of the score lines 42 terminating at the lines ofseverance 46 and 47 and the upper ends of the score lines 43 terminatingat the line of severance 47.

By the provision of the various score lines and lines of severance, adisplay piece, such as illustratedin Fig. 6, may be formed byappropriately folding the panel about the score lines and a plurality ofsuperimposed geometrical figures 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 may thus beformed, the respective geometrical figures being substantially cubicleor parallelepiped in shape and having their respective sides angularlyoffset with respect to each other. As has been hereinbefore describedwith regard to the display pieces illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, thedisplay piece illustrated in Fig. 6 may be employed as a background orsetting for the display of merchandise. The display piece illustrated inFig. 6 may be used as a single unit or a plurality of such displaypieces may be employed.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, another modification of theinvention is shown wherein a panel or blank 53 constructed of materialssimilar to panels 1, and 38 may be provided with a plurality ofangularly inclined score lines 54, 55 and 56 and a spaced plurality ofangularly inclined score lines 57, 58 and 59. The score lines 54, 55 and56 are in alignment respectively with the score lines 57, 58 and 59. Thepanel 53 may be provided with spaced lines of severance 60 and 61 andthe central portion of the panel included between the lines of severance60 and 61 may be provided with angularly inclined score lines 62, 63 and64. The blank or panel 53 is shaped generally as a truncated triangle ortrapezoid and the score lines are generally parallel to the side edgesof the panel as has been hereinbefore described, the score lines 54, 55and 56 are in substantial alignment with the score lines 57, 58 and 59.However, the score lines 62, 63 and 64. are laterally. offset withrespect to the first-mentioned score lines.

By appropriately folding the panel or blank 53 about the various scorelines a plurality of geometrical figures 65, 66 and 67 are formed, thefigures being superimposed with respect to each other and having theirrespective sides angularly disposed with respect to each other. In thisfashion a display pieceis formed, as illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein thedisplay piece is generally pyramidal or conical in form havingsuperimposed geometrical shapes which diminish in size upwardly from theface piece 67. The display piece illustrated in Fig. 8 may be employedas a background or setting for merchandise and may be employed as.anindividualunit or a plurality of such units may be used.

It will be noted that in all forms of the invention the display piecesmay be so disposed as to present the generally convex side forwardly ormay be disposed so as to present the generally concave side forwardly.tion, it will be noted that all forms of the display comprisesuperimposed geometrical figures which are angularly offset with respectto each other due to the lateral oflsetting of the score lines above andbelow a line of severance. Hence, employing this basic concept manyattractive and pleasing-display pieces other than those illustrated anddescribed may. be made by any one skilled in the art and, hence, .it is.not intended that the present invention be limited to thespecific formsshownexcept as necessitated by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A display piece constructed of foldable' board material which comprises,.a blank: having; opposite side edgesand a top edge, said: blank being.provided with a line of severance which extends intermediate the sideedges of said blank and atan angle:to saidside edges, said line of.

of. said line ofv severance beingcloser. to a side edge of said blankthan to an adjacent score-line on the same side ofsaid line ofseverance, all of said score linesbeiug disposed at an angle to saidline of severance, and all of the score lines on one side of said lineof severance being respectively laterally offset from all of the scorelines on the opposite side of said line of severance whereby said blankwhen folded about said score lines presents a plurality of panels theplanes of which are disposed at different angles to one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,012,400] Pistorius- Aug. 27,1935

2,211,340 Mehrkens Aug. 13, 1940 2,290,095 Crandall' July 14, 19422,646,357 Seiferth July 21, 1953..

FOREIGN PATENTS 505,299 Belgium Se t. 15, 1951 In addi-

